Shastri justifies ban on Gautam Gambhir

New Delhi: Favouring the one-Test ban imposed on the left-hand opener Gautam Gambhir here, former players today asserted that the punishment was perfectly justifiable as there should not be any place for physical contacts in cricket.

''It is perfectly justified because he is a young chap and he should be given a rap on the knuckles at the right time,'' said former captain Ravi Shastri.

''It should not happen that he does such a thing in a World Cup and then gets banned for the final,'' he added.

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell echoed the Shastri's view by saying that ''the ban is justified because cricket is not a contact sport.'' Noted cricket writer Peter Roebuck also justified the ban and hoped that the punishment would act as a deterrent for Gambhir in future.

''I think it was the right decision because in cricket there is no place for physical abuse. I hope he will learn his lesson by such a decision at the right time,'' he said.

Gambhir banned for one Test match

Gambhir was banned for one-Test match after being found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the opening day of the third Test against Australia. However, the opener has decided to contest the ban.

The incident that led to the charge being laid took place during the 51st over of India's first innings of the ongoinf Test when there was a coming-together of Gambhir and Shane Watson.

India to appeal against Gambhir ban Watson was also found guilty and fined 10 per cent of his match fee yesterday for verbally engaging with Gambhir in a manner that was not in keeping with the Spirit of Cricket.